From July 7-14, 1936 every state reached 90F (32C), forty states reached 100F (38C) and sixteen states reached 110F (43C.) It was the hottest week in US history.
California, South Dakota, Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Kansas, Minnesota and Ohio were all over 110F. South Dakota reached 115F and California was over 120F.
The average afternoon temperature in the US during that week was 94 degrees, seven degrees above the average since 1895.
More than 50% of temperature readings were above 95F (35C.)
More than a third of temperature readings were over 100F (38C)
The animated gif below shows the progression of the heatwave.
The most remarkable statistics were for the Midwest, which averaged 103F.
Almost 100% of Midwest temperature readings were over 95F that week.
And more than three-fourths of Midwest temperature readings were over 100F.
July, 1936 was the hottest month on record in the US.
The Bulletin – Google News Archive Search
TimesMachine: July 7, 1936 – NYTimes.com
16 Jul 1936 – WORST DROUGHT IN HISTORY – Trove
11 Jul 1936, 1 – Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com
The hottest temperature ever recorded in New York City (106F) occurred on July 9, 1936.
21 Jul 1936 – DEATHS IN CANADA – Trove
Fortunately, we don’t get hot weather like that any more.
Page 1 – Carroll Daily Herald at Newspapers.com
This came after the coldest February on record in the US.
14 Feb 1936 – INTENSE COLD – Trove
A few weeks later was some of the worst floods in US history.
24 Mar 1936 – UNITED STATES FLOODS – Trove
20 Mar 1936 – ALL EASTERN AMERICA UNDER FLOOD WATERS
And a few weeks after that was some of the worst tornado outbreaks in US history.
17 Apr 1936 – THIRD WORST DISASTER – Trove
11 Apr 1936, Page 1 – Weekly Town Talk
Weather disasters were striking all over the world.
25 Jul 1936 – TYPHOON SWEEPS JAPANESE ISLAND. – Trove
14 Oct 1936 – PHILIPPINES TYPHOON – Trove
22 Feb 1936 – A QUEENSLAND TORNADO. – Trove
09 Dec 1936 – 300 Dead – Trove
27 Feb 1936 – Cattle Dying in Hundreds – Trove
28 Sep 1936 – WORST DROUGHT IN HISTORY – Trove
29 Oct 1936 – TERRIFIC GALES LASH EUROPE AND BRITAIN – Trove
Unlike now, the US was run by Democrats and was in a terrible economic depression. People had very real problems to deal with, and didn’t need to manufacture imaginary crises in order to keep themselves entertained.
